'Nine Dragon' Housing Complex / YKH_LAB

Located next to their apartment-factory project in Suizhong, China, the design for the mixed-used development of residential units and sales center for the apartment-factory by YKH_LAB (to be converted later as a retail center for the residential development) is a part of the Korea Town development. Relevant to the core idea of its sister project Suizhong Apt-factory, the conceptual qualities of this project are in response to this relationship with 8 distinctive courtyards and roof gardens. Their mission was also to reflect the needs of the owner: to maximum density and marketable residential prototypes. More images and architects’ description after the break.

As in our previous design of ‘Suizhong Apt-factory’, we applied a permeable ‘mat hybrid’ format with differentiating public outdoor courtyards in this site. By spreading linear bar-type blocks in north-south & east-west directions, a ‘waffle-like’ base layer was created. We then extruded parts of the linear block to meet the client’s density requirement; then we shifted and adjusted levels to provide the best views possible for residential units. The result is a next generation housing typology that embraces (1) the courtyard apartment type (of the famed Example district in Barcelona circa 1850s), (2) the linear row housing type (still the preferable residential type in Korea) and (3) the high-rise bar type apartment (prevalent in Chicago’s residential development of the 1950s). This 362-unit housing complex is an organized evolution that was generated from a schematic combination of three apartment types with a practical response to meet programmatic, economic, and social needs.

Throughout the complex, there is a fluid circulation between vehicle parking, community centers, residential areas, gardens, courtyards, and retail zones. In addition to building entrances, there are a total of thirteen major passageways with six exterior access points and seven interior access points. The multi-level underground parking is connected through a series of ramps with two vehicular entrances and exits and convenient access points to various programs.

Daylighting and Views: The tower heights and angles are adjusted to benefit natural lighting into the apartment and retail units. After several iterations of shadow studies, the heights of the towers were adjusted to benefit the natural day-lighting into both high and low residential apartments. The horizontal angle rotation of the orthogonal grid system shifts the volume to benefit the occupants’ views and access to natural indoor lighting.

Privacy: The mixed-use concept of the project raises the issue of privacy as an important design challenge. Fluidity between programs must exist, while maintaining a level of security and privacy for the residents within. Within the formal design of the overall housing complex, the surfaces and volumes were further shifted to adjust for maximum privacy and safety. The Façade’s multi-facet edges correlate with the boundaries of the nine unit types to combine an efficient unit-type system with a solution to the issue of privacy.

Community spaces are interwoven throughout the housing complex to create a livable and safe environment. The spaces include eight courtyards, four connecting roof gardens, and four indoor community spaces that are flexible in program from cafes, library, health clubs, to event halls. Each courtyard holds different approaches to its landscape design and can be a place of rest or be activated as outdoor event spaces. These public spaces promote pedestrian life, physical activity, and a sense of community to this new development.

The gallery building is the first phase of ‘Korea Town’. The building will promote the project and act as a sales center. The design goal for the gallery was program flexibility and the ability to stand alone but merge seamlessly with the completed housing complex. As a part of the whole, the gallery is like a piece of a composite puzzle. The ‘Theme & Variations’ concept prevalent in the adjacent ‘Korea Town Apt-factory’ project was reiterated in the design of the sales gallery and also in the elevation design of the whole complex; the façade of blocks contains a duality when seen from different cardinal directions. The north surfaces run vertically whereas the south façades emphasizes horizontality.